VIC

4150 posts

VIC, 4150 posts

1 Aug 2018 11:17AM

I think he's talking about a prone surf foil board.

My kite foil of choice is a surf foil. The lower speed and greater stability make it fantastic for any "edge" conditions. Very light wind (lower starting speed) or big chop and waves (easier to carve or drop into waves) make it great fun. It lacks some of the top end speed of a higher aspect foil, but in chop and everyday conditions the performance is similar. The higher aspect foil is more fun when the water is smooth but the wind is stronger.

I have played with paddling in my 155cm kite foil board. It works ok. I am a crap short board surfer so I can't really give any definitive comment. It worked and I could catch waves. There are videos of the foil designer riding surf on my foil and having a great time.

It seems to be a universal truth that shorter boards are better for foiling because of reduced swing weight. I now ride a 120cm board and love it. The 155cm now feels like an aircraft carrier. All the pro paddle surf foilers are riding 3'6" boards.

QLD

3864 posts

QLD, 3864 posts

Yes thanks Gorgo, that's right I'm considering getting a prone surf foil board that I can surf-foil & also kite-foil in light wind.

Have a look here www.facebook.com/axisfoils/ for some videos of people surfing the surf/SUP wing. Some of us kite foil the same setup too. I'm big and heavy, but the little and light local guys can ride it fine with kites too -- but they need to down size the kites a lot. I'm riding an 8m Switchblade as my biggest kite now.

So yeah, it's doable. I think you'd need two boards though, as you (or rather, I) don't want a big board with a 750mm mast and a kite...

WA

663 posts

WA, 663 posts

I've used the Slingshot Infinity 76cm wing to both paddle in, tow in and kitefoil. It works fine but I don't think you can realistically do it all on one foil without making compromise.

For surfing, a 50 - 70 cm mast is best, and for kite foiling, although it can be done on short masts, it is best to use between 90 and 100cm for freeriding. Surfing also is best with low speed wings for paddling in, unless you are towing into "decent" waves where speed is more important than getting up and "milking" a tiny wave to full effect.

You don't necessarily have to choose two setups. Going with a Slingshot rig allows you to simply change front wings which substantially reduces cost. You will need to compromise a little on mast length one way or the other. I think it greatly depends on where you are happy to make the compromise, either surfing or kiting. The Moses Onda 71 is also getting excellent reviews although I'm not going to comment on this wing one way or the other until I have given it a decent test.

I rode the Infinity on the 24" mast with the kite and it was great in a super flat, calm, light wind day for just cruising but if it was choppier or windier, a longer mast would have been really helpful.

NSW

1344 posts

NSW, 1344 posts

3 Aug 2018 12:51AM

You could go with a Slingshot Angry Swallow too for a paddle in board. Mine is 5'4" but I doubt I could paddle in to a wave as I have guzzled too much beer on this trip and am packing a few extra k's. I have ridden it with Zeeko Spitfire xlw wings and it's great in the smaller surf. I have also ridden it as surfboard with the kite and it does a very good job as well. Great all rounder for everything except for me the paddle side of things. If you only had one board to travel with and were trying to do all things, this one could be good for most of it.

VIC

25 posts

VIC, 25 posts

3 Aug 2018 4:57AM

Da fish. How many kgs are you? I have the slingshot converter and spitfire xlw wings on the way. I dint think there would be enough lift for prone. will give prone surf a go next SW storm that comes through the bay.

NSW

1344 posts

NSW, 1344 posts

3 Aug 2018 5:08AM

Select to expand quote

C000pers said..Da fish. How many kgs are you? I have the slingshot converter and spitfire xlw wings on the way. I dint think there would be enough lift for prone. will give prone surf a go next SW storm that comes through the bay.

I am afraid to get on the scales right now. Been traveling for nearly 4 and half months. I would guess about 87 and I should be 80 to 82. I get back home in two weeks and beer will be off the menu. Currently in California where the micro brews are killing my will power.

VIC

2689 posts

VIC, 2689 posts

3 Aug 2018 6:31AM

Select to expand quote

dafish said..

C000pers said..Da fish. How many kgs are you? I have the slingshot converter and spitfire xlw wings on the way. I dint think there would be enough lift for prone. will give prone surf a go next SW storm that comes through the bay.

I am afraid to get on the scales right now. Been traveling for nearly 4 and half months. I would guess about 87 and I should be 80 to 82. I get back home in two weeks and beer will be off the menu. Currently in California where the micro brews are killing my will power.

It's the start of old age. By the the time you start next brewery binge the 87 will only be 83. But the the next 87 will be 90.and foiling after the initial crash a burn nervous energy stage is not such a work out as Slapping. ( the new Windfoil term for old school windsurfing)

NSW

93 posts

NSW, 93 posts

3 Aug 2018 11:48AM

To acheive this is a compromise but could be done. Foil choice would need to be a brand with interchangeable wings (Many of them out there Naish, Axis, etc) & have a set of wings for Kiting & a set for surfing. They are different designs for different uses for a reason. Mast length - longer for kiting - Min 70cm but better 90cm. Whereas surfing 55 - 65cm is ideal. 70cm could compromise between the two if you had too.Boards - Swing weight & length is an issue, but the board has to be able to be paddled - keep the length around the 5 6" mark but with heaps of volume. Kite foiling & surf foiling are two different beasts. Surf foiling has a lot more challenges but I'm liking it the best. It almost seems to be about a 50% ratio body weight to litres volume until you are really good at paddling in. Or maybe it's just me being a fat old bastard.

VIC

4150 posts

VIC, 4150 posts

3 Aug 2018 3:14PM

J Shapes do one piece carbon foil and fuselage. It is very easy and quick to change over. Two screws and job done.

The foils are incredibly light and robust. The 120cm board, foil and 95cm mast weigh less than 6kg. I have 300 hours on the Freeride foil (high aspect) and about 100 hours on the Cruzer foil (low aspect surf). The small extra cost of having two fuselages is more than offset by the strength and ease of use.

I don't really get the separate wings and shims thing. It may be necessary for foil surfing. I don't have enough surf foiling experience to comment. It's certainly not necessary for kite foiling. The most I ever have to do is move my back foot a little. I do that all the time anyway.

I use the Cruzer a lot kite foiling in the waves and have experimented paddling into waves with it. I am having a box installed in my SUP to continue with the learning process. If that all goes well I will buy the larger C Wave foil and look into getting a dedicated foiling SUP or prone board.

QLD

1499 posts

QLD, 1499 posts

4 Aug 2018 7:14AM

I have decided to get a dedicated prone foil surfboard, main focus is to prone surf but plan to also kite it in light wind. Has anyone used both the Naish Thrust L & Axis 820 & can compare to two please, I'll also have a look at the Infinity.

NSW

276 posts

NSW, 276 posts

4 Aug 2018 8:47AM

Select to expand quote

Gorgo said..J Shapes do one piece carbon foil and fuselage. It is very easy and quick to change over. Two screws and job done.

The foils are incredibly light and robust. The 120cm board, foil and 95cm mast weigh less than 6kg. I have 300 hours on the Freeride foil (high aspect) and about 100 hours on the Cruzer foil (low aspect surf). The small extra cost of having two fuselages is more than offset by the strength and ease of use.

I don't really get the separate wings and shims thing. It may be necessary for foil surfing. I don't have enough surf foiling experience to comment. It's certainly not necessary for kite foiling. The most I ever have to do is move my back foot a little. I do that all the time anyway.

I use the Cruzer a lot kite foiling in the waves and have experimented paddling into waves with it. I am having a box installed in my SUP to continue with the learning process. If that all goes well I will buy the larger C Wave foil and look into getting a dedicated foiling SUP or prone board.

Hi GorgoTotally agree with the Jshapesfoil quality .Lightweight Carbon,easy two piece assembly.Three foils available.Kite-cruzer-wave70-95cm Carbon masts.Tuttle box mount is great but Was advised by a fellow kite prone surf foiler that Manta foils have a Tuttle to mast box adapter.This allows more choice of surf or Sup choice of board which have the mast box arrangement.Also like you thinking of getting the Wave foil.Will take some photos of a few kiteboards and sups I have retrofitted with boxes.Awesome sport.